Rank the Big Ten in Terms of Youth

Ranked most experienced to least experienced (nat'l ranking in parens).

1. Michigan State (107)
2. Illinois (114)
3. Wisconsin (117)
4. Northwestern (132)
5. Penn State (161)
6. Minnesota (181)
7. Purdue (187)
8. Ohio State (246)
9. Indiana (286)
10. Iowa (291)
11. Michigan (339)

IMO, this is a big reason why Ohio State does not win the national title this year, and why Michigan State is poised for a run.
 
Here is the list... this is from kenpom. It is weighed based on minutes played (so if you have starting freshmen and seniors on the bench, you are "young"). Freshmen get a value of 0, Soph 1, Jr 2, Sr 3.

Parenthesis is national rank out of 345 teams...

1. Penn State 2.15 (45)
2. MSU 1.93 (107)
3. Illinois 1.91 (114)
4. Wisconsin 1.91 (117)
5. Northwestern 1.86 (132)
6. Minnesota 1.71 (181)
7. Purdue 1.69 (187)
8. Ohio State 1.52 (246)
9. Indiana 1.33 (286)
10. Iowa 1.30 (291)
11. Michigan 0.84 (339)
 
Couple observations...

So, Penn State, with the "oldest" class still isn't getting it done. How long does Ed Dechelis have?

The Big Ten is a young conference.
 
storminspank said:
Couple observations...

So, Penn State, with the "oldest" class still isn't getting it done. How long does Ed Dechelis have?

The Big Ten is a young conference.
Click to expand...

It's funny my wife and I just had that conversation last night. Talor Battle is their best player and he is a great player in some people's eyes. Why hasn't PSU been able to attract better talent with him on the roster? It is the same scenario with ND when they had Chris Thomas and then Luke Harangody. They are good players, but how have they "advanced" the program, what are the results? What has Talor Battle done at PSU that will help Ed keep his job? What has that staff done for Battle and add talent to justify keeping their job? It works both ways. Putting too much emphasis on one player can undo a program and staff.
I am all for Iowa continuing to recruit who they are and just build a team atmosphere and have 4 or 5 guys more than capable of having a big game and playing together as a group and not watching one player do everything and becoming stagnant. At some point, a player will emerge as the "go to" guy and leaders will emerge as well.
 
storminspank said:
Couple observations...

So, Penn State, with the "oldest" class still isn't getting it done. How long does Ed Dechelis have?

The Big Ten is a young conference.
Click to expand...

First off, Dechelis should be gone after this season. They have talent there now, but he seems to have no clue how to use it correctly.

While the Big Ten may be "young", the star power is very old.

1. Penn State 2.15 (45) - lose Battle
2. MSU 1.93 (107)- Lucas, Summers
3. Illinois 1.91 (114)- McCamey, Davis, Tisdale
4. Wisconsin 1.91 (117)- Lueur, Nankivil
5. Northwestern 1.86 (132)- Thompson
6. Minnesota 1.71 (181)- Hoffarber (good shape)
7. Purdue 1.69 (187)- Johnson, Moore
8. Ohio State 1.52 (246)- Diebler, Lighty, Lauderdale, Sullinger (pro)
9. Indiana 1.33 (286)- little talent to lose
10. Iowa 1.30 (291)- Cole is a minor loss
11. Michigan 0.84 (339)- staff shake up seemed to work

Fran has a very good opportunity next season to move up the in the Big Ten pecking order. Iowa will finally have an experienced team and most of the other Big Ten schools will be replacing their studs.
 
The problem with this theory is that Big Ten teams reload. They don't just graduate players and replace them with nobody. To get to the next level in the pecking order Fran will need to continue to develop players and bring in quality. He is doing exactly that and this is why the Hawkeyes will move up in the standings. We got ourselves a good man. It is obvious, but don't expect other B10 teams to get worse!
 
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